Virtual keyboard
The present invention discloses a virtual keyboard, which includes a virtual region, at least two vibration sensors, a storage unit and a processing unit. The virtual region is formed on a surface and has a plurality of virtual keys. The vibration sensors are provided on the surface. The storage unit is used to store a plurality of data, each of the plurality of data recording an actual location and signification of each of the virtual keys. The processing unit is electronically connected to the vibration sensors and the storage unit. When a vibration signal is caused by touching the virtual region, each of the vibration sensors receives the vibration signal and respectively sends an output signal corresponding to the vibration signal to the processing unit. The processing unit determines a vibration source location of the vibration signal based on the output signals and locates a knocked virtual key by comparison of the vibration source location and the actual location recorded in the data, and generates a key signal according to the signification of the knocked key of the virtual keys.
(1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the design of a keyboard, and more particularly to a virtual keyboard without tangible keys.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Keyboards have become indispensable one of the peripheral devices of computers, used to input characters, numerals or commands. Nowadays, more and more computer users pay much attention to not only CPUs, memories, hard disk drives or graphic cards etc., which is highly related to performance of a computer system, but also keyboards and mice. This is because a number of computer users have appreciated that although the current CPUs with high performance, such as Intel Pentium 4, are satisfactory for use in home or office, the user interface devices, such as keyboards or mice, still play an important role. To some degree, although mice are able to replace keyboards, keyboards are still essential and convenient for some inputting tasks. That is, better keyboards are desired.
The traditional computer keyboard consists of a plurality of tangible keys, a tangible conductive membrane under the keys, and a processing unit. One of the disadvantages of the traditional keyboard is that it occupies too much space, which is difficult to stow. On the other hand, the keyboards specifically designed for desktop personal computers are not suitable for use in notebook computers because of being inconvenient to carry. Furthermore, the keyboard designed for a desktop personal computer cannot be used by other electronic apparatus, and thus users have to buy specific input device. For example, the keyboard designed for a desktop personal computer cannot be used by a PDA and thus a specific input device is required. Obviously, this is inconvenient and uneconomical for uses. Therefore, in order to meet the requirements of uses in compatibility and convenience, keyboard manufacturers have presented a number of solutions to solve the above problems.
Referring to FIG. 1, U.S. Pat. No. 6,650,318 discloses a virtual keyboard 60, which consists of a laser source 70, a sensor 80 and a processing unit 90. The laser source 70 emits a laser beam to form a virtual keyboard image 180 after shaped. The virtual keyboard image 180 includes a plurality of key images. If there is a finger or an object placed on the virtual keyboard image 180, the laser beam will be reflected and sensed by the sensor 80. Based on angle and time required for reflection, the processing unit 90 is able to figure out which key is knocked. Therefore, the processing unit 90 outputs a character, a numeral or even a command corresponding to the knocked key to a computer host 95.
However, the disadvantages of the virtual keyboard 60 are shown as follows. Firstly, the laser source 70 used in the virtual keyboard 60 is probably harmful to human eyes, especially to children or younger users, if they directly look at the laser source 70. Secondly, the laser source 70 used in the virtual keyboard 60 continuously emits the laser beam to form the virtual keyboard image 180, which leads to significant power consumption. That is, if there is no adaptor or external electric power source on hand, the virtual keyboard 60 is not suitable for use in a portable electronic apparatus.
Therefore, there is a need to improve the above traditional tangible or virtual keyboard.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention discloses a virtual keyboard, including a virtual region, at least two vibration sensors, a storage unit and a processing unit. The virtual region is formed on a surface and has a plurality of virtual keys. The vibration sensors are provided on the surface. The storage unit is used to store a plurality of data, each of the plurality of data recording an actual location and signification of each of the plurality of virtual keys. The processing unit is electronically connected to the vibration sensors and the storage unit. When a vibration signal is caused by touching the virtual region, each of the vibration sensors receives the vibration signal and respectively sends an output signal corresponding to the vibration signal to the processing unit. The processing unit determines a vibration source location of the vibration signal based on the output signals, locates a knocked virtual key by comparison of the vibration source location and the actual location recorded in the data, and generates a key signal according to the signification of the knocked key of the virtual keys.
The virtual keyboard further includes a wireless communication unit or a wired communication unit, used to send the key signal to a device, such as a computer host.
Furthermore, the surface of the virtual region can exist on any object, preferably a platform, such as a rigid plastic plate, a plate made of wood, a glass plate or a metallic plate, as well as a flexible plate including a soft plastic sheet, a rubber plate or a piece of paper.
Under the support of a software interface executed on the device, the present invention enables a user to input the data into the device. As mentioned above, each data records each of the actual locations and the significations of the plurality of virtual keys. This means that in the present invention a user is allowed to define each of the locations and significations of the plurality of virtual keys.
In addition, under the support of a handwriting software, the present invention further includes a virtual handwriting board provided for handwriting inputs. Also, under the support of a touch pad software, the present invention further includes a virtual touch pad provided for touch inputs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe present invention will now be specified with reference to its preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings, in which
The present invention discloses a virtual keyboard.
As shown in
Referring to
In the present invention, the storage unit 500 and the processing unit 300 can be located in two separated packages. Alternatively, the storage unit 500 of the present invention and the processing unit 300 can be packed together into a single package. Additionally, if the virtual region 170 is formed on a planar plate, the processing unit 300 can be packed or integrated into the planar plate. Importantly, in another embodiment the storage unit 500 can be provided by the above-mentioned computing device 600. In this way, to derive a key signal according to the signification of the knocked key of the virtual keys 175a, the processing unit 300 only needs to send a processing signal which is the information of the vibration source location or even both the time information and amplitude information about the vibration signal sensed by the first and the second vibration sensors 210, 220 to the computing device 600. Thereafter, the computing device 600 computes and derives the key signal according to the signification of the knocked key of the virtual keys 175a through its built-in CPU.
From the description of the above embodiment, it is understood that virtual keyboard 100 makes use of sensing the location of the vibration signal generated in the virtual region 170 to determine which virtual key 175 is knocked. That is, in contrast to prior art using laser beam, any light source is needless for the present invention. Obviously, any problems accompanied by using laser beam can be avoided, which also means that less power consumption and being harmless to user's eyesight are achieved in the present invention.
In addition, the present invention further includes a software interface, not shown, executed in the computing device 600, for a user to set some data into the storage unit 500. The setting method is described in detail as follows.
At first, a certain position, e.g. a virtual key, in the virtual region 170 is knocked by a user. The processing unit 300 determines the coordinate of the position based on the elapsed time difference and/or the amplitude sensed by the first vibration sensor 210 and the second vibration sensor 220. Meanwhile, the storage unit 500 stores a piece of data representing the coordinate and its signification defined by the user.
As mentioned above, each data records each of the actual locations and the significations of the plurality of virtual keys 175. This means that in the present invention a user is allowed to define each of the locations and significations of the virtual keys 175. For example, if there is only numeral needed to be inputted, the user is allowed to define that the virtual keys 175 all represent numerals through the software interface. In addition, the area and location of the virtual keys 175 are varied depending on the user.
On the other hand, if one of the virtual keys is pressed and another one of the virtual keys, such as Ctrl-A, is knocked by a user simultaneously, the surface tension of the planar keyboard 400 will be altered by the user keeping on pressing the virtual key and thus cause change in some physical characters of the vibration wave, such as decrease in transmitting speed or attenuation in amplitude of the vibration wave. The degree of alteration of some physical characters of the vibration wave can be sensed by the vibration sensors and the processing unit 300. The alteration is collected and stored by the storage unit 500 as an object character information. That is, the present virtual keyboard also allows the user to press two keys at the same time.
In addition, in case under the support of a software to perform functions of a touch pad, the virtual region further includes a virtual touch pad which enables the present invention to work as a touch pad. In further detail, when the surface of the virtual touch pad is slightly touched by a moving object, such as a finger of a user, the vibration sensors is able to detect that the vibration source is moving in a line with time. The processing unit 300 determines that the user is moving a cursor, just like the cursor moving function provided by a touch pad or a mouse, and then moves the cursor or scroll a page based on the moving of the object. Likewise, under the support of a software to perform a handwriting function, the virtual region further includes a handwriting board which enables the present invention to provide handwriting functions.
While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments of the present invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A virtual keyboard, comprising:
- a virtual region, formed on a surface and having a plurality of virtual keys;
- at least two vibration sensors, provided on the surface;
- a storage unit, used to store a plurality of data, each of the plurality of data recording an actual location and signification of each of the plurality of virtual keys; and
- a processing unit, electronically connected to the vibration sensors and the storage unit;
- wherein when a vibration signal is caused by touching the virtual region, each of the vibration sensors receives the vibration signal and respectively sends an output signal corresponding to the vibration signal to the processing unit, the processing unit determines a vibration source location of the vibration signal based on the output signals, and locates a knocked key of the virtual keys by comparison of the vibration source location and the actual location recorded in the data, and generates a key signal according to the signification of the knocked key of the virtual keys
2. The virtual keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit determines the vibration source location based on elapsed time difference of the vibration signal and/or amplitude ratio of the vibration signal received by the vibration sensors, respectively.
3. The virtual keyboard according to claim 1, further comprises a wireless communication unit and/or a wired communication unit, used to send the key signal to a device.
4. The virtual keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit further stores object character information provided for recording how the vibration wave transmitted on the surface is affected by any one of the plurality of virtual keys pressed.
5. The virtual keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the surface is a plane on a platform, chosen from the group consisting of a rigid plate, a flexible plate and a piece of paper; wherein the plurality of virtual keys are a plurality of key patterns printed on the platform.
6. The virtual keyboard according to claim 5, wherein the platform further comprises a plurality of foot stands.
7. The virtual keyboard according to claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of foot stands further comprises a vibration-absorbing pad.
8. The virtual keyboard according to claim 5, wherein the platform further comprises a plurality of positioning protrusions, each of the plurality of positioning protrusions formed within one of the key patterns.
9. The virtual keyboard according to claim 1, further comprises a software interface executed on a device, enabling a user to input the data into the device.
10. The virtual keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the virtual region further comprises a virtual handwriting board and/or a virtual touch pad.
11. A virtual keyboard, used in a computing device having a storage unit used to store a plurality of data, each of the plurality of data recording an actual location and signification of each of the plurality of virtual keys, the virtual keyboard comprising:
- a virtual region, formed on a surface, having a plurality of virtual keys;
- at least two vibration sensors, provided on the surface; and
- a processing unit, electronically connected to the vibration sensors and the storage unit;
- wherein when a vibration signal is caused by touching the virtual region, each of the vibration sensors receives the vibration signal, whereby the processing unit generates a processing signal corresponding to the vibration signals to the computing device.
12. The virtual keyboard according to claim 11, further comprises a wireless communication unit and/or a wired communication unit, used to send the processing signal to the computing device.
13. The virtual keyboard according to claim 11, wherein the processing signal is time information and amplitude information of the vibration signal.
14. The virtual keyboard according to claim 11, wherein the processing signal is information of a vibration source location of the vibration signal.
15. The virtual keyboard according to claim 11, wherein the surface is a plane on a platform, chosen from the group consisting of a rigid plate, a flexible plate and a piece of paper; wherein the plurality of virtual keys are a plurality of key patterns printed on the platform.
16. The virtual keyboard according to claim 15, wherein the platform further comprises a plurality of foot stands.
17. The virtual keyboard according to claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of foot stands further comprises a vibration-absorbing pad.
18. The virtual keyboard according to claim 15, wherein the platform further comprises a plurality of positioning protrusions, each of the plurality of positioning protrusions formed within one of the key patterns.
19. The virtual keyboard according to claim 11, further comprises a software interface executed on the device, enabling a user to input the data into the device.
20. The virtual keyboard according to claim 11, wherein the virtual region further comprises a virtual handwriting board and/or a virtual touch pad.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 15, 2005
Publication Date: Oct 19, 2006
Inventor: Huan-Wen Chien (Sindian City)
Application Number: 11/106,447
International Classification: G09G 5/00 (20060101);